Repugnant views are unacceptable for a mainstream party.

Updated 12:02 am, Thursday, March 17, 2011

His disturbing comments reported last week in a San Antonio Current blog do immense damage to the Democratic Party and all political discourse. Those comments and his failure to retract them demonstrate his unsuitability to hold any position of leadership.

In the interview with the Current, Ramos blamed the local party's poor showing in the 2010 general election on gay Democrats, who he described as “termites” that are part of a “very sinister movement.” In the profanity-laced interview, he said gays were just like the Nazi Party and the tea party, “90 percent white, blue-eyed, and Anglo.” Gays were victims of the Nazi regime.

For good measure, Ramos also insulted African Americans. “Just like the blacks,” he said of the gay community, “they're American, but you can't get your way just because you're black.”

Such repugnant and ignorant views should not be tolerated by any elected official or anyone with a leadership position in a mainstream party. Challenges to Ramos' leadership and charges that he has violated state party rules are an internal party matter. Hateful statements that tear at the fabric of the community are, however, a public issue.

Prior to Ramos' incendiary remarks, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, filed legislation that would enable a state party executive committee to remove a county chairman for incompetence or official misconduct. Though the legislation does not mention Ramos by name and is not even specific to the Democratic Party, it seems to be tailor made for the Bexar County Democratic chairman.

Assuming the legislation passes, the process to remove Ramos could take months. That shouldn't be necessary. Ramos should heed the call of outraged Democrats in Bexar County and across the state, including Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie, and resign.